Prayers for Young

People
PLANNING YOUR PRAYER

Introduction
Prayers and liturgies in different styles, to use with young people
Adapt and use these prayers as part of a youth group session, retreat or
day of reflection.
There are many other worship resources available in print and on the
CAFOD website to tie in with the liturgical year, Fast Days, campaigns and
current events. You might look at the Confirmation section of the site for a
wide range of additional worship and liturgy resources with a global
theme.
Tips:
 Don’t be afraid to pray: try to build it into the programme, perhaps
starting small and building it up through the weeks as you get more
used to praying together.
 Don’t just stick to the same style of prayer all the time.
 Don’t be intimidated by silence, although how you use it will depend on
the group.
 Create your atmosphere: music, lighting, a focal point. Candles are not
only helpful for creating atmosphere, but they help to bring people to
prayer by representing Jesus as the light of the world.
 You may need to think creatively about how to ensure the whole group
are engaged and that it’s a participative experience.
 If you’ve pre-prepared it, invite some of the group to read or lead parts
of the service.
 A PowerPoint of images can be a good focus to enable people to reflect
on an idea. You can speak to it, use different voices to read prayers
over it or play music which either acts as background music or has
relevant lyrics.
 Taking note of the liturgical year can help to give direction to your
prayer, using themes of hope or expectation in Advent, preparation or
reconciliation during Lent, etc.

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Gather
Begin by welcoming people together and a short prayer to set the scene.
A selection of prayers to use as a group begin their time of worship can be
found below.

Scripture
Select a scripture reading to provide the focus for your worship. Some
useful justice-related scripture passages include:
 The Sheep and the Goats Matthew 25:31-46
 The Beatitudes Matthew 5:1-12
 Act justly, walk humbly Micah 6:8
 Faith without good deeds is no faith at all James 2:14-17
 Learn to do good Isaiah 1:17
 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me Luke 4:16-22
 Good Samaritan Luke 10:29-37
 The Magnificat Luke 1:46-55

Reflect
Allow time for people to reflect on the reading, e.g. with a PowerPoint of
images, a piece of music, a meditation.
A powerpoint reflection on the sheep and goats an alternative powerpoint
reflection on Two hands can be found at cafod.org.uk/greatgeneration

Respond
Provide opportunity for people to respond to the reading, through prayer,
through singing, through drama or activities.
A selection of prayers to make your prayer response to the reading can be
found below.
You might think of alternative ways to enable young people to respond to
the reading through art, music or drama and you can find a range of
options elsewhere on the website.

Send out
End the worship time with a prayer of mission, of action or of
commitment. You will find some suggestions below.

And finally…
Once you become familiar with the structure you might then add things or
adjust it but this pattern will help you ensure a balanced time of prayer
and worship.

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PRAYERS TO ENGAGE YOUNG PEOPLE appreciate the wonder of your
creation and
Respond prayers
live my life to the full.
Select a prayer from here to enable
Amen.
young people to respond to a
Anna Field/CAFOD
scripture reading or when you
might one a short prayer as part of
Christ our Lord,
a bigger session.
You give us our lives: all that we
are, our bodies and our minds.
Beautiful Lord,
You inspire us to learn more about
may we say ‘yes’ to you
the world around us,
so that the Spirit in our hearts
about you, about ourselves and
will once again be set ablaze.
about one another.
Spirit of Wisdom,
guide our actions so they tell of
May we who enjoy the freedoms
God’s love.
that you give us
Spirit of Truth,
rejoice in our discoveries and work
open our eyes to see the world as it
tirelessly for education for all.
really is.
May those who take risks and make
Spirit of Power,
sacrifices for their own education
enthuse us to work for justice
or the education of others
throughout
inspire us always in our pursuit of
the world.
learning and the life of faith.
Spirit of Love,
May we learn from one another,
inspire us to respect the dignity of
gain the knowledge to build a better
each
world,
person.
and realise the potential you give to
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of
all.
your
Amen.
faithful.
Daniel Hale/CAFOD
Come, Holy Spirit, fill our hearts.
Come, Holy Spirit, fill us.
Lent fast day prayer
Come, Holy Spirit.
Just and generous God,
Come.
bring us together in a community of
Stephen Davies/CAFOD
peace
as we mark this Lent Fast Day.
Lord, help me to
Our world is so unbalanced and
cherish the last time I really
unequal,
laughed,
may our efforts, our prayer and our
value the last thing that I achieved,
action
respect the last time I did
help to bring some balance.
something that scared me.
Amen
Lord, be by my side so that I can
Jonathan Leach/CAFOD
find joy in the smallest things,

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We pray for the Church, that she
may tirelessly serve those who lack
the basic necessities of life and be a
voice calling for change.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our
prayer.
We pray for the world’s leaders,
that they may not hide behind their
power or abuse it, but work for the
good of all humanity, particularly
those who live in poverty.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our
prayer.
We pray for ourselves, that we may
show our love through our respect
for each other and our
environment, gladly sharing what
we have with those in need.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our
prayer.
Linda Jones/CAFOD
This might be led by two people
with all joining in the response.
We pray for all your people, Lord.
Voice 1 For those in places of
despair that they may find hope,
We pray for all your people,
Lord.
Voice 2 For those who may
bring hope to others,
We pray for all your people,
Lord.
Voice 1 For those who hunger
or thirst, that their needs may be
met,
We pray for all your people,
Lord.
Voice 2 For those with the
power to help those who hunger or
thirst,
We pray for all your people,
Lord.
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Voice 1 For those who are
homeless that they may find
shelter,
We pray for all your people,
Lord.
Voice 2 For those who can work
to create a fairer world,
We pray for all your people,
Lord.
Mo Baldwin / CAFOD
An outside sink – an amenity.
An existence – a life.
A skateboard – fun!
Help us, Lord, to see the value,
the inspiration,
the joy
in other people’s lives
even when they don’t echo our
own.
Creator and guide,
we remember all young people
in all of their communities.
Remind us that it is too easy for
us to judge,
to decide how others should feel,
and enable us to enable others
to live their own lives
in their own cultures
having fun.
Stephen Davies/CAFOD
Help me to grow less.
Less concerned by my wants
Less worried by my future
Less blind to others’ suffering
So that you may grow more
More present in my life
Making me
More aware of my dignity
More trusting in your providence
More filled with love for all people
God of simplicity and abundance
Give me less and more
Amen.
Evan Ellis/Caritas Australia
I pray for the ones who help
me.
I pray that the word of God will
spread and live long.
I pray for rain and food
because there are so many
people who have neither.
I pray for more justice and peace
in this world.
Mana/CAFOD, Ethiopia
Creator God, create us anew!
Teach us respect for your wonderful
world,
awareness of the earth’s resources,
compassion for the needy,
and gratitude for our daily
blessings.
Jonathan Leach/Bellerive FCJ Catholic
College, Liverpool
Help your light to shine brightly,
and especially in places of
darkness.
Amen.
Jonathan Leach/CAFOD
We thank you, God, for those
people, events and things which
warm our lives and help us to grow
and develop.
We turn to the west to the setting
of the sun,
We praise you, God, for sunsets,
nights, for endings in our lives.
We turn to the north, and
remember the challenges and
difficulties in life.
We ask you, Lord, for the courage
to take up your call for us.
Bending down to touch mother
earth,
We praise you, Creator God, for the
things which sustain our lives.
Finally, as we gaze into the sky, we
think of all our dreams.
We thank you, God, for your gift of
hope.
Centred in the Creator’s universe,
We recognise our part in all of your
creation.
Sophie Stanes/CAFOD

An active prayer
In an unhurried fashion, we greet
the six directions in prayer.
(This prayer works particularly well
outside)
We turn to the east and face the
rising sun.
We praise you, God, for the gift of
new life, of new days, of youth, of
beginnings.

We turn to the south to the lands

which are warmed,

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PRAYERS TO BEGIN A SESSION
Gathering prayers
Select a prayer from here to begin
a time of worship.
We gather as your people, Lord,
in this time and in this place.
Give us eyes open to the needs of
all your creation,
hearts open to the call of all your
creation
and hands open to do your work for
all your creation.
Amen.
Mo Baldwin / CAFOD
Loving Creator,
transform our hearts so that we
walk more humbly,
live more simply
and become the change we wish to
see in the world.
Amen.
Kieran O’Brien/CAFOD
Lord Jesus, you told us
that in your Father’s house there
are many rooms.
Make our hearts wide and
welcoming
so that those we meet may feel
that they have found a home.
Gemma Simmonds CJ
Here and now, Lord,
I hold before you simply some of
the six billion people with whom I
share this world.
Although I may never meet them
nor even know their names,
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I place them in your loving care.
Guide them.
Support them.
Be with them.
May they be full of your love
and share it with those they meet,
as I, once more, commit myself
to do the same.
Amen.
Stephen Davies/CAFOD
PRAYERS TO END A SESSION
Send out prayers
Select a prayer from here to end a
session or worship time or retreat
experience.
Lord Jesus,
help us to follow your call
and to put faith into action.
Let reflection on your word
lead to action in our world.
Amen.
Annabel Shilson-Thomas/CAFOD
God of all women and men,
of every time and place,
watch over your people, we ask
you.
Encourage us, God of life!
Even when things seem tough and
gloomy,
remind us that you are close to us.
Give us the courage to stand up for
what we believe in
and the wisdom to trust in your
guidance and love.
Amen.
Jonathan Leach/CAFOD
In our waiting that together we can build a better
in our praying world
in our being where each person is valued and
by our actions the gift of your creation
and our words is a blessing to us all.
by our choices Amen.
and decisions Claire Bogue/CAFOD
may we make your love known.
In our tears
and our anger
by our sharing
and our sheltering
through our joy
and thanksgiving
may we make your love known.
Linda Jones/CAFOD

We leave this place, Lord,

Inspired by your Word,
Challenged by your example,
Empowered by your Spirit.
Give us the strength to be people
who
Inspire others with your Word,
Challenge others with your example
And empower others with your
Spirit.
Amen.
Mo Baldwin / CAFOD

I strive, You inspire

I intend, You challenge
I forget, You forgive
I fail, You love
Help me, Lord Jesus, to be more
like you.
Amen.
Anna Field/CAFOD

Lord, you call each of us by

name
to be the best person we can be.
Help us to help one another share
the fruits of your earth,